On January 12, 1935, the third meeting of the "Committee on the Chinese Silver Question", a provisional body of the British Cabinet, was held in London.

The meeting analyzed the situation in China and held that it is feasible from a technical point of view for China to abandon the existing currency system and peg the currency to the pound sterling and adopt the standard of the pound exchange rate. The British government should lend money to China, which will be secured by China's silver reserves, which will have to be sold and the United States the only buyer.

Well, whether it's the United Kingdom, the United States, or Chang Kaishen and Kong Xiangxi, they all want China to sell silver to the United States. Because China is really out of money, it has to use it to get money and access to the most basic foreign exchange reserves to prevent the collapse of the newly issued currency.

It is impossible for Britain to buy Chinese silver by itself, because the international silver price is too high, and Britain will lose as much as it buys.

At the same time, in order to stabilize China's financial market. Britain would sell some silver to China to increase its silver reserves, and to make Britain a fortune from it, which would be provided in the form of British loans, secured by Chinese customs duties.

This kind of three-way transaction looks like nonsense, and the biggest profit is the United Kingdom, which, by the way, can also initially tie China's currency reform to the pound.

Unlike historical developments, this time Britain did not propose a joint solution by Britain, Japan, France, and the United States, but directly sent economic experts to visit China.

On February 5, Song Ziwen had returned to China and was urgently summoned by Lao Jiang, along with Finance Minister Kong Xiangxi.

Chang Kaishen looked very bad because he was threatened by the British. British economic experts vaguely revealed that British banks in China will provide loans to support China's large enterprises and local banks to tide over the difficulties, which completely disrupted the rhythm of Chang Kaishen and Kong Xiangxi's harvesting of private capital.

"Ziwen, take a look at this." Chang Kaishen threw out a document.

The document is more than 10 pages long, and the first is that China sells silver to the United States, and then Britain provides silver and loans, and helps China complete currency reform. There are many additional conditions, which can be summarized in four points: first, to obtain a British loan with Chinese tariffs as security, in order to ensure the repayment of the loan, China must retain the British General Department of Revenue to administer customs, and the General Department of Revenue should have sufficient powers, including the recruitment of foreign staff; second, to control the use of loans, which is limited to the purpose of currency reform; third, to restructure the central bank and hire British advisers; Fourth, reform the budget.

"That's a good plan." Song Ziwen smiled, but he was surprised in his heart, he was extremely surprised by Zhou Hexuan's diplomatic ability.

"What's good!" Chang Kaishen pointed to the first item of the additional clause and said angrily, "Retain the management of customs by the British General Department of Revenue, and the General Department of Taxation should have sufficient powers, including recruiting foreign staff!" What did the British want to do, to treat the Republic of China as the Manchu Qing Dynasty? And want to continue to control the Chinese customs! ”

China's negotiations to reclaim customs have dragged on, and it was not until two years ago that it really took back its tariff autonomy. Although the General Department of Customs and Excise is still retained, the director is still British, and the foreign senior staff of the customs is ten times that of the Chinese senior staff, it is undeniable that the Nanjing government has a say in the tariff issue.

Zhou Hexuan never imagined that the British were so greedy and wanted to take the opportunity to regain control of Chinese customs.

Alas, the helplessness of diplomats lies here, although they can move the course of history, they cannot call the shots in key places. Chang Kaishen has his own calculations, and the British are not shrewd, and both sides are trying to obtain the maximum benefits.

Song Ziwen said: "In terms of tariffs, we must not agree to the UK, and it is not easy for us to have independent tariffs." ”

Kong Xiangxi said: "The British are daydreaming. ”

Chang Kaishen said worriedly: "British economic experts have revealed to me that they want to lend money to big Chinese companies and local banks. This has disrupted our plans, what do you think should be done? ”

"The British don't do that, they just put on a show at best." Kong Xiangxi shook his head and said.

Song Ziwen said: "We can release the news that the British want to take the opportunity to seize the Chinese tariffs, so that the British have no calculation to fight." ”

Chang Kaishen pondered: "Don't act rashly for the time being, after arousing the people's disgust, it is not conducive to ending with the help of the United Kingdom." It's time for us to move faster, we have to take full control of the Bank of China within this month, and the next step is the Bank of Guangdong. On the British side, let's talk about it for the time being, they will definitely bite with Japan and the United States. ”

Again, Zhou Hexuan underestimated the greed of the British and actually wanted to take the opportunity to dominate the Chinese customs. Chang Kaishen is a nationalist, he is extremely sensitive in this regard, and will never agree to the blackmail scheme proposed by the British.

The Chinese silver crisis, which could have been resolved half a year earlier, is estimated to be delayed for two or three months because of the greed of the British - this time it has nothing to do with Lao Chiang, it is purely the British who are too embarrassed and really regard the Republic of China as the Manchu Qing.

The progress of Sino-British negotiations has slowed down like this, and the pace of Sino-Japanese negotiations has also slowed down, and only Lao Chiang's plan to harvest private capital is accelerating.

Zhou Hexuan had already gone to the United States at this time and was communicating with left-wing writers in the United States. After he received Song Ziwen's transoceanic telegram, he was so angry that he smashed the cup directly: "The British, who has a brain in water, deceives people too much!" ”

Meng Xiaodong picked up the broken cup and comforted: "Don't be angry, what can the little people do about this kind of national event?" ”

Zhou Hexuan couldn't help but burst into foul language: "Lao Tzu pointed out the way for the British, this kind of thing is obviously beneficial to the British, but they still don't think the benefits are enough, and they want to take the opportunity to get over the Chinese customs!" What is it called? It's called insatiable! The arrogant arrogance of the British will not change for hundreds of years, and the whole world is their backyard! ”

Meng Xiaodong sneered: "You look like a child when you're angry." ”

Zhou Hexuan barely calmed down and said depressedly: "No matter what you do in the future, anyway, Lao Tzu won't engage in diplomacy, it's really thankless." Now that I think about it, it's really not easy for diplomats like Gu Weijun and Yan Huiqing, and if it were me, I would have been driven crazy a long time ago. ”

"You've done your best, just have a clear conscience." Meng Xiaodong comforted softly.

Zhou Hexuan muttered to himself: "No matter what, if Britain is still allowed to enter the game, it should be two or three months earlier than in history." ”

"What's two or three months in advance?" Meng Xiaodong asked.

"It's nothing," Zhou Hexuan smiled and changed the subject, "Let's go, let's go to Hollywood and visit Vivian and they film." ”

Meng Xiaodong said happily: "Okay, Mr. Chaplin also said that he wanted to invite me to dinner." ”

Zhou Hexuan looked at the sky outside the window, it was cloudy, and it was about to rain. He really doesn't want to get involved in international diplomacy anymore, he is tired, the domestic bigwigs are blocked, and the foreign bigwigs are greedy, and he can't do anything at all when he is caught in the middle.

As for the proud and arrogant British, let's eat, and when the United States comes out to pick the fruit, they can't even cry.

A bunch of short-sighted garbage!